Defense News – Experts say the buildup of naval forces in Iran represents a rising threat to its neighboring countries.

Naval News – According to the Iranian news outlet IRIB News, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy received 110 indigenously made combat speedboats on December 11 during a ceremony in Bandar Abbas.

CIMSEC – This article identifies Iranian maritime threats and proposes a course of action for the U.S. Navy to continue and improve upon its efforts in the region to deter them.

USNI News – The two-ship Iranian Navy group that stalked the West Coast of Africa and the Baltic Sea this summer has returned home, as leaders in Tehran pledge more international naval operations.

BBC – In July 2020, the oil tanker Gulf Sky vanished from waters off the United Arab Emirates, along with its crew. Days later it turned up in Iran where it’s now suspected to be working as a “ghost ship” – helping the regime ferry oil in breach of sanctions. For the first time, eight former crew have spoken to the BBC about the ship’s disappearance, saying they were hijacked by a group of armed men. All but the captain have asked not to be named, out of fear for their safety and livelihoods.

BBC – A Panama-flagged ship has been hijacked by armed men in the Gulf of Oman and ordered to sail to Iran, Lloyds List Maritime Intelligence has confirmed.

BBC – Israel has accused Iran of being behind an attack on an oil tanker in which two crew members – a British national and a Romanian citizen – were killed.

RT – Iran has welcomed two new vessels to its navy, the Iranian-made Dena destroyer and Shahin minehunter, during a ceremony at Bandar Abbas port.

(Thanks to Alain)

USNI News – The former oil-tanker the Iranian Navy converted into a warship could be carrying millions of gallons of fuel to Venezuela in a ploy to get around U.S. sanctions, according to photos that emerged on Persian social media.

War Zone – The two Iranian Navy ships appear headed for Venezuela, which, while a token gesture, could still have significant geopolitical ramifications.

USNI News – The loss of Kharg, Iran’s only replenishment ship, created new challenges for the under-resourced Iranian Navy. The fleet oiler was an essential unit in Iranian ambitions to operate beyond the Middle East.

BBC – A large Iranian navy ship has sunk after catching fire in the Gulf of Oman during a training mission.

War Zone – Iranian boats have now harassed American warships in and around the Persian Gulf on three separate occasions in just over a month.

War Zone – The incident took place yesterday and is the second instance of Iranian boats harassing American military vessels in less than a month.

War Zone – One of Iran’s oddest ships was used to torment U.S. Coast Guard crews operating in the Persian Gulf.

USNI News – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N) is building a new class of warships, as first reported in Naval News last week based on satellite imagery. The catamaran design appears relatively large, modern and capable compared to existing IRGC commercial-based designs. The sectarian arm of the Iranian military’s move to more substantial warships may be part of a wider effort by the IRGC-N to gain conventional naval capabilities more in line with the regular IRIN (Islamic Republic of Iran Navy).

Naval News – We believe that Iran’s IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard) will unveil a new ship soon. The 64m (210 ft) long catamaran is believed to be a low-observable missile corvette. It is much larger and heavier armed than the IRIS Shahid Nazeri, a related ship already in IRGC service.

Naval News – The US Navy’s gigantic Expeditionary Mobile Base (ESB) ships are among the largest naval vessels afloat. They are part of America’s unrivalled global reach, but they are no longer unique. Iran is testing a similar Forward Base Ship which is comparable in size.

StrategyPage – Another look at Iran’s current submarine problems.

(Thanks to Alain)

Defense News – The Iranian and Russian militaries have kicked off a joint naval drill in the Indian Ocean aimed at boosting security of maritime trade in the region.

National Interest – Tehran might lack the ability to keep their Cold War-era Soviet submarines in running order.

(Thanks to Alain)

USNI News – While the Iranian naval forces have been clashing with U.S. forces in the Middles East in the last several weeks, its most capable submarines have been out of action.

War Zone – Iran sent ballistic missiles 1,000 miles out into the Indian Ocean, but it doesn’t mean they have a long-range anti-ship ballistic missile capability.

War Zone – Iran’s Navy has formally commissioned the Markran, a former oil tanker it says has been transformed into a “forward base ship.” This vessel could provide a platform for more persistent maritime operations in and outside of the country’s own littoral areas. 

USNI News – The Middle East remains a volatile area for merchant shipping into the new year, according to the analysis of attacks on ships in the region.